Tuesday, August 12, 2008

New York Islanders General Manager Garth Snow has named Scott Gordon the team's head coach. Gordon, the reigning American Hockey League Coach of the Year with the Providence Bruins, is the 14th head coach in franchise history. He has agreed to a multi-year contract with the Islanders.

"Scott has been one of the top up-and-coming coaches in hockey and with good reason," said Snow.

I think Gordon's a very good choice for the Islanders, but he's certainly got his work cut out for him. There's definitely the potential for him to become roadkill if Snow's rebuild doesn't go as planned.

“Garth has given me an unbelievable opportunity to coach in the NHL with the Islanders,” Gordon said in a statement. “From my time coaching in Providence, I’ve seen firsthand the talented young players in this organization. I look at the direction and the vision for this team and see a bright future.”

Once again a new guy gets the call (rather than a recycle). Guess this makes it pretty much official - GMs are really wanting fresh faces as the bench bosses. Getting fired this year meant FIRED, instead of temporarily side-lined until the next gig.

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About Me

A sportswriter at The Globe and Mail, James covers the NHL and the game of hockey. He is a member of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, a radio and TV analyst with TSN and was the NHL network manager at SB Nation from 2008 to 2010. A graduate of Thompson Rivers and Ryerson universities, James grew up in Kamloops, B.C. — one of Canada's great hockey cities — and was a season ticket holder in the Blazers' glory years.

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